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Wednesday , March 1, 2023 | Pinewood International American School of Thessaloniki

M arina Nazeraki Worldwide Winter Festivities

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish festivity that is celebrated all around the world by Jewish people and is also a national holiday in Israel. 2000 years ago, Jewish people fought King Antiochus who was against their religion, and thus made a law that forbade them from practicing their religion. After winning the battle, they visited their temple and found a candle that could only last for one day. However, it surprisingly lasted for eight days. That’s why those who celebrate Hanukkah light one candle in the Menorah for eight days. Additionally, during Hanukkah, families gather together, eat traditional food such as Brisket, Latkes, Kugel, Sufganiyot, and Hanukkah Gelt, and finally, they play dreidel, a traditional game.

St. Nicholas Day

St Nicholas was a Greek bishop in the 4th century. He was known as a very kind and generous person who used to sell his belongings in order to raise money for people in need. The tradition states that on his feast night, St. Nicholas and Black Peter allocated gifts to the good children and coal to the bad ones. Nowadays, it is celebrated on December 6 in northwestern Europe, where people exchange gifts, eat traditional festive food, go to church, and have huge family gatherings.